Vietnam makes substantial contributions to the ocean agenda and promotes the implementation of UNCLOS

According to Ambassador Do Hung Viet, looking back over the past year, Vietnam is proud to have made many substantive contributions to the ocean agenda and promoted the implementation of UNCLOS globally.

From December 8-9, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the 80th session of the UN General Assembly held its annual plenary discussion on oceans and the law of the sea to summarize cooperation and new developments over the past year in ocean governance and the implementation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) globally.

The discussion attracted a large number of representatives from United Nations member states, bodies established under the Convention, and many international and regional organizations.

Speaking at the session, Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, welcomed the positive progress in global ocean and sea governance over the past year, notably the success of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in June 2025 in promoting the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14; the BBNJ Agreement, which is scheduled to enter into force in January 2026; and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issuing its advisory opinion (July 2025) to further clarify national obligations in protecting the marine environment and responding to the impacts of climate change on the seas and oceans.

On this occasion, the Ambassador affirmed Vietnam's recognition and appreciation for the work of the mechanisms established by UNCLOS (International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea - ITLOS, the International Seabed Authority - ISA, and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf - CLCS) as well as many other agencies and discussion processes within the framework of the United Nations in 2025.

Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, speaks at the discussion session. (Photo: Thanh Tuan/VNA)

The tireless efforts of these agencies and processes, along with the joint contributions of all member states, have contributed to many substantive advances in promoting ocean governance at all levels.

Looking back over the past year, Vietnam is proud to have made many substantive contributions to the ocean agenda and to promoting the implementation of UNCLOS globally. Vietnam has made substantial contributions at UNOC3 through the registration of numerous voluntary commitments on marine management, fisheries governance, and marine environmental pollution reduction.

Vietnam was among the first countries to sign and ratify the BBNJ Agreement, contributing to the agreement reaching the requirement of 60 ratifying countries to enter into force.

From June 2025, in its role as Chair of the 35th Conference of States Parties to UNCLOS (SPLOS 35), Vietnam has been discussing and adopting decisions with other countries, seeking solutions to enhance the effectiveness of the bodies established by UNCLOS.

In particular, Vietnam's first-ever nomination of a candidate for the position of ITLOS judge for the 2026-2035 term is the clearest evidence of its strong commitment and desire to contribute directly to the process of promoting the comprehensive interpretation and application of UNCLOS.

Regarding the situation in the East Sea, reaffirming the importance of peace and stability in this maritime space for the common development and prosperity of the region, Ambassador Do Hung Viet emphasized Vietnam's principled stance in supporting the resolution of all disputes through peaceful means, in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS.

The Ambassador, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation, requested that all relevant parties fully and in good faith fulfill their obligations under UNCLOS, respect and fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), exercise restraint, peacefully resolve disputes, respect diplomatic and legal processes, and reaffirm Vietnam's commitment to continue fully implementing the DOC and actively working with other countries to build an effective, substantive, and internationally compliant Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), especially in accordance with UNCLOS.

Within the framework of the discussions, the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted four resolutions on oceans and the law of the sea, sustainable fisheries, the BBNJ Agreement, and convened the 4th United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 4). For the first time, Vietnam co-sponsored all four resolutions, affirming Vietnam's active role and increasingly deep participation in multilateral processes on oceans and the law of the sea.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/viet-nam-dong-gop-thuc-chat-cho-nghi-su-dai-duong-va-thuc-day-thuc-thi-unclos-post1082173.vnp